I
don’t know how many more times I can say ‘Wow this was my favorite experience’
before someone calls me out on the fact that I say it like twice a week. Until
that time comes, I’m going to say it one more time. A popular hike to do here
is Lions Head and specifically on the night of a full moon because from the
peak you can see the sunset over the Atlantic and watch the full moon rise over
the city. Several of my housemates and I decided to take on this hike because
we heard about how amazing of an experience it is. So Monday as soon as we got
back from our internships we gathered together a picnic, packed backpacks, and
left to get to the mountain by 6.
The
beginning of the hike wasn’t bad at all, just a rocky path that winds around
the mountain. The sights were beautiful the whole way up, and because it wound
around the mountain you got to see the beauty of Camps Bay and the 12 Apostles
on the one side and on the other you got to see Table Mountain and the City
Bowl. Personal fact you should know about me, I’m quite afraid of heights. For
whatever reason it didn’t really register to me that hiking a mountain means
going pretty darn high above sea level (Lions Head’s peak is about 2100 feet)
and I didn’t realize how high we were hiking until I looked down and saw how
small the cars were getting. There were two separate parts of the hike when I
had mini heart palpitations. One was when we were on the ‘Chain’ route which is
a part of the hike where you need to climb a vertical rock face for just a
couple minutes and there are metal handles and chains to help you and I
couldn’t quite figure out the holdings correctly. The other is when we had
about 5 minutes left of the hike and reached a flat part of the mountain and
looking around there was absolutely zero protection from falling off the
mountain, I found comfort in looking up at Table Mountain that way I knew there
was some kind of earth above my head and I wasn’t about to climb into the
clouds.
 |
| Aimee, Elise, Melissa, Wylie, Lindsay & Erica on Lion's Head |
Once
we got the top it was the most amazing feeling. Not only where there amazing
views in every single direction, but the sense of accomplishment and euphoria I
felt was surprising. There was something about making it to the top of the
mountain to witness the end of day and beginning of night that was just uplifting.
I’ve tried making sense of it, and I think it may be similar to why the Swedish
House Mafia concert surprised me so much. I went into the hike thinking it
would just be good exercise and good views at the top. I didn’t think about how
I would have to push myself to make it to the top and set aside fears of
falling and heights to accomplish what I came there to do. I unexpectedly
overcame a fear (temporarily) and when I reached the top it was just such a
self-esteem booster! I felt accomplished and better about myself just from
climbing a mountain!
Also
it made me prioritize hiking and doing more trails on Table Mountain and around
the Cape Town area. I realized that that is a feeling I want to have more of
and was already hooked off the euphoria you feel when you reach the top of the
mountain! It definitely made me prioritize the activities I wanted to while
being here. Cape Town continues to surprise me with the things I have to learn
about myself, I never thought I would do this much self-discovering!
So
now that I’ve gained a hobby it’s time to learn a skill! I’m hoping to learn
how to surf while being here so stayed tuned for what I’m sure will be some
entertaining stories.
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